Indicator-lock.



PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

P. YOB. INDICATOR LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 9!.901.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' zienfor' lfforlze y Fly. wz'fne ses w'.

PATENTED MAR. 24;, 1903.

P. YOE.

INDICATOR LOCK. A-PPLIQATION FILED NOV. 6, 1901.

ZSHEETS-SHEET 2.

30 MODEL.

In zmn 01 m iffa ney 57V ifnews s. &, vfi Chm/W 4 NITED STATES PHILIP YOE, or DAYTON,

PATENT GFFrcE.

OHIO, .ASSIGNOR TO LEOPOLD' RAUII, OF DAY-TON, OHIO.

INDICATOR-LOCK.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,350, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed November 6, 1901. Serial No. 81,291. (No model.)

., ments in Indicator-Locks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to supply a lock especially designed for railroad-switches, fire alarm boxes, lockers, and the like to which access is to be had by different persons each possessing a key to the lock and for which keys bearing different numbers are supplied, the lock being provided with registering mechanism to register the number of the key last used to open the lock.

My invention as I have illustrated it is particularly designed for padlocks in which a bolt confines the shackle of the lock; but my improved registering devices can be readily adapted to other forms of locks without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The purpose of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of such indicator-locks, render the movements positive, reduce the number ofparts to a minimum, dispense with the use of springs as much as possible, and very materially cheapen the cost of the keys, so that a simple, cheap, and efiective lock may be obtained well adapted to rough usage and exposure.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my lock with the front case and registry devices removed and the key inserted, ready to displace the tumbler and slide the bolt. Fig. 2 is a plan view with front case removed and registry devices in place, showing the position of the key after releasing the shackle and before registration. Figs. 3 ands are similar views of the lock, respectively, after registrationand-with the key ready for removal. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views, respectively, of the slide-bolt and tumbler, together and separately. Figs. 8, 9, and 10 are respectively detail side, front, and rear elevations of the key and registry devices. Fig. 11 is a plan view of one of the keys. Fig.12 is a perspective view of one of the registry devices.

A is the case of the padlock, of any suitable size and shape, provided with a shackle B, pivoted on the pin a in a suitable opening in the top of the case and provided with a recess b at its free end to receive the beveled latch c on the sliding bolt 0 to lock the free end of the shackle in the opening d in the case. The hub e of the pivoted end of the shackle B is recessed or cut away, as indicated by dotted linef, and the bolt (3, guided on the pin g by the slot h, carries its shoulder i in this recess when the bolt is in looking position for the shackle. When the bolt is slid to the right to release the shackle in the manner to be hereinafter described, this shoulder 'L' is carried beyond the recess, al-

lowing the end of the spring is mountedonpivoted end of the tumbler to hold same in normal position.

E is the key for throwing back the bolt and releasing the shackle.

F is a barrel or cylinder mounted to oscillate between the Walls of the case, normally held by the end of the spring p, mounted on the pin r, with the lug s on the cylinder bearing against the lower edge of the opening it in the case, through which the lug 8 projects. This cylinder' is provided with a slot 1 (shown in dotted lines,) through which the key E is inserted, the cylinder beingturned slightly to bring the slot in line with the recess t. The key is a flat strip of sheet metal, shaped at its outer end to displace the tumbier D and slide back the bolt 0 to release the shackle B. The key is not operatedin the usual way, but oscillates on a transverse axis in the cylinder F, and this novel construction is designed to obtain a positive movement for the key to operate the registry devices, as will be hereinafter described, and also to present a very narrow contracted opening to prevent the picking of the lock. It will also be noted that the spring holds the key-receiving slot 1; of the cylinder when the key is removed behind the wall of the case with the lug s bearin g against the casing, so that the cylinder becomes a keyhole-escutcheon drop to prevent-dirt and dust getting into the look.

When the key is inserted in the lock, the arrangement is such that the bit of the key fits over the beveled point 10 of the tumbler D, and the transverse sidewise movement of the key, acting against the beveled end of the tumbler, draws the same downward against the pressure of the spring 70 out of contact with the lug m on the bolt, allowing the key to contact with the arm y on the bolt 0 to slide the bolt to the right into the position shown in Fig. 2. Teeth a b are formed on the upper edge of the tumbler to serve as a key-arrester to prevent return of the key after the tumbler is displaced and to compel a complete movement thereof to insure registration, as hereinafter described. When the tumbler is displaced and the bolt actuated, the lug m rides in a recess-c, cut in the under face of the tumbler, as shown in Fig. 6. The beveled point 61' enforces a still further transverse movement of the key until its bit has passed the point, when the spring 7c enforces a partial return of the tumbler, with the lug 'm on the bolt bearing against the lower edge of the recess 0' in the tumbler.

In this position the bit on the key has passed the arm 3 and the position is as shown in'Fig. The lug m prevents the complete return of the tumbler to its normal position, and the bit of the key is inthis position caught on the outer end of the point D in the tumbler, so the key is locked in by the tumbler and cannot be withdrawn until the shackle is again pressed down into the case. When this is done,the hub e of the shackle is no longer in the pathway of the bolt, and the lower end of the spring 10, bearing within the notch e on the lower face of the bolt, throws the bolt back to lock the shackle. The withdrawal of the lug m with the bolt releases the tumbler, and the spring returns it to its normal'pos'ition, so that the bit of the key can slide back in the notch n of the tumbler, where the key is stopped by the end of the notch in the position shown in Fig. 4, ready to be withdrawn through the second recess 25 in the case. The key, it will be noticed, cannot return to its first position, but must be withdrawn through the second opening 25" and reinserted in the first opening 15 before the lock can be again operated.

Except for the features of novelty to which attention has already been calledto wit, the construction and operation of the tumbler and of the key-the general construction of the lock can be of any well-known form. I have illustrated a tumbler-lock. Of course any number of tumblers desired may be employed and anynumber of wards maybe supplied for the key, and, so far as the registering devices to be nowdescribed are concerned, any construction of look can be used, either with or without tumblers or wards.

The registering devices are constructed as follows: Mounted loosely on the pin H are a series of segment-plates L L, each plate provided with a deep notch M on its inner edge and bearing numerals N on the other edge, with a portion of this edge formed with teeth P to correspond to the number of numerals employed. The middle portion of the key is cut away to leavea web portion f to fit within the notches M of the plates L and thus to fix the location of the plates when the key is forced over'to its extreme position.

In the drawings I have illustrated a construction of four indicator-plates, and with this number of plates, with four numerals on each plate, we can have two hundred and fifty-six different combinations, and consequently keys of this number, each differently numbered, can be employed. By increasing the number of plates and the digits on each plate I can of course very largely increase the number of combinations and the number of keys which can be employed. A wide mouth is formed for each notch M in the plates, so that the web or bit of the key can force its way into its appropriate notch. So long as the key remains in its extreme position into which it is forced by the shape of the tumbler D the plates will be locked in position by the key and will indicate through the opening R in the case the set of numerals corresponding to the numerals on the key. Every key in the series will thus register and indicate its own particular number.

Attached to the bolt C is an upright arm S in such a position that when the bolt is in looking position the arm S will engage the proper tooth P of each registering-plate L, and thus when the bolt is locked the plates L are locked. As the bolt is thrown-the plates are released until the web of the key enters the notches M, when the plates are again locked by the key. This construction and operation of parts by which the bolt itself simultaneousl y locks both theshackle and the registering devices forms one of the important features of my invention, and in connec tion with this part of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the particular kind of lock or registry devices I have shown.

Heretofore locking-pawls or other intermediate mechanisms have been employed to lock the registry devices; but I have now dispensed with all intermediate devices and positively lock my registry mechanism simultaneously with the locking of the bolts.

The opening B, through which the numerals registered by the keys are inspected, is normally closed by a shield T, which is pivoted on the pin H. This shield has an opening g, which when brought in line W-iththe opening R exposes the numerals to View. The base-plate of this shield T, by which it ispivoted, is formed with a curved surface 7t ona radius whose center is the center of the cylinder F, and this cylinder carries a pin 1', which contacts with this curved surface. m

is a tooth or projection on this surface, and

when the pin Z passes this tooth the shield T is vibrated sufficiently to expose the opening. The position of this opening g is so located with reference to the tooth m that when the key is inserted through the cylinder F the pin Z in the cylinder will have passed the projection m, and the shield cannot be moved back so as to bring the sight-opening g in line with the opening in the'case. As soon as the key is withdrawn, however, the spr'ingp rotates the cylinder F, so that its arm 8 bears against the lower edge of the keyaperture. In this position the pin Z has passed the projection m, so that a slight movement of the cylinder by the arm 5 will bring into register the two sight-openings. The purpose of this shield is twofo1dto close the sight-opening from dirt ordinarily entering and to prevent the registering plates from being tampered with when they are released by throwing back the bolt. Without some provision for preventing access to the registry-plates when they are released with the throwing of the bolt there would be nothing to prevent employing a key to open the lock from which the registry-web on the key had been removed and then arranging the register to indicate the number on some particular key. With my arrangement, however, the bolt is thrown so as to release the register. The register itself is inaccessible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Inalock, the combination, with the bolt, and pivoted tumbler therefor, of a flat key, and means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, to release the tumbler and throw the bolt, substantially as described.

2. In a lock, the combination, with a bolt, and key, with means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, of a series of registering-plates, each plate provided with a.

notch projected into the pathway of said key, with a web on the key, to engage said notches, whereby the key may be registered, substantially as described.

3. In a lock, the combination, with a bolt and key, with means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, and a key-arrester for preventing the return of the key after it has started to throw the bolt, of a series of registering-plates, each plate provided with a notch projected into the pathway of said key, with web on the key to engage said notches for registering, substantially as described.

4c. In a lock, the combination, with the bolt, and a pivoted tumbler therefor, of a flat key, means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, a series of registering-plates, each plate provided with a notch projected into the pathway of said key, and a web on the key to engage said notches and register the key, substantially as described.

. 5. In a lock, the combination, with the bolt and a pivoted tumbler therefor, of a fiat key, means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, a key-arrester on the tumbler to prevent the return of the key, a series of registering-plates, each plate providedwith a notch projected into the pathway of said key,

and a web on the key to engage said notches and register the key, substantially as described.

6. In a lock, the combination, with a looking member, and a registry device with a key for actuating same, of a bolt to lock the looking member and registry device, simultaneously, substantially as described.

7. Inalock, the combination,withashackle and registering-plates, and a key for actuating same, of a bolt to lock the shackle and the registering-plates simultaneously, substantially as described.

8. In a lock, the combination, with a shackle and registering-plates, and a key for actuating same, of a bolt to lock the shackle and the registering-plates simultaneously, and a tumbler to hold the bolt in locked position, substantially as described.

9. In a lock, the combination, of a series of registering-plates, a key to operate same, a shackle and a bolt to lock both the registeringplates and the shackle simultaneously, and a combined tumbler and key-arrester to hold the bolt in locked position, substantially as described.

10. In alock, the combination, of a series of registering-plates, a key to move the registering-plates into a registering position, a springactuated tumbler .to hold the key in registered position, and a spring-actuated bolt to engage the registering-plates, substantially as described.

11. In alock, the combination, with the bolt and a key for actuating same, of a series of registering-plates, each plate providedwith a notch projected into the pathway of said key, a web on the key to engage said notches to register the key and lock the plates, and an arm on the bolt to engage said plates and lock the same when the bolt is locked, substantially as described.

12. In a lock,the combination, with the bolt and a key for actuating same, of a key-arrester for preventing the return of the key after it has started to throw the belt, a series of registering-plates,each plate provided with a notch projected into the pathway of said key, a web on the key to engage said notches atthe limit of its stroke to register the key and lock the plates, and an arm on the bolt to engage said plates and lock same when the bolt is locked, substantially as described.

13. In a lock, the combination, with the bolt and a pivoted tumbler therefor, of a flat key, and means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis,a series of registeringplates, each plate provided with a notch projected into the pathway of said key, a web on the key to engage said notches to register the key and lock the plates, and an arm on the bolt to engage said plates and lock same when the bolt is locked, substantially as described.

14. In a lock,the combination,with the bolt, and a pivoted tumbler therefor, of a fiat key, and means for guiding said key to oscillate on a transverse axis, a key-arrester for preventing the return of the key, a series of registering-plates, each plate provided with a notch render inaccessible said registry device, substantially as described. 16. In a lock, the combination, with a registry device, and a key for operating same, with a key-cylinder for guiding the movement of the key, of a shield to cover said registry devices, and a dog on said key-cylinder to engage s'aid shield, whereby when the key is operated, the shield will be locked to render inaccessible said registry device, substantially as described.

17. In a lock, the combination, with a registry device, and akey for operating same, with a key-cylinder for guiding the movement of the key, of a shield to cover said registry devices, and connecting mechanism between the key-cylinder and shield, and a handle on the cylinder to operate said shield independently of the key, substantially as described.

PHILIP YOE.

Witnesses:

PARKER RUsBY, WILLIAM DOERSH. 

